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In time the Battlefield Reconnaissance
Helicopter (formerly known as the Battlefield Light Utility
Helicopter) will replace the capability currently provided by the
Gazelle AH 1 and Lynx Mk 7 and Lynx Mk 9.
The UK MoD announced in 2006 that the UK's Armed Forces will receive
70 of the highly advanced BRH (sometimes known as Future Lynx)
helicopters which will be used for everything from battlefield
reconnaissance, casualty evacuation and troop transport, to detecting
and destroying fast naval attack craft.
The contract provides 40 aircraft for the AAC and 30 for the Royal
Navy. The contract also provides an option for a further 10 aircraft,
possibly five for the Army and five for the Navy.
The new aircraft are expected to enter service from 2014 and will
incorporate a range of technological improvements including:
configurable cockpit display, networked enabled capability, more
powerful engines, better defensive aids and a new tail rotor system.
Technology improvements mean that the aircraft will have greater
reliability, resulting in significant reductions to support and
maintenance costs over life of the aircraft which will stay in service
for 30 years.
Aircraft will be built by Augusta Westland and the the contract is
expected to cost in the region of £1 billion (about £14 million per
aircraft).
Photo Courtesy
AugustaWestland
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